What Is the Life Expectancy for Those with Cerebral Palsy?
When parents have a child, they want the child to have the best of everything, and the parents hope they will succeed in raising a healthy, happy individual who will have a long life. However, things don’t always go according to plan, and factors beyond a parent’s control can significantly impact a child’s life. Injuries sustained at birth or complications before, during, or after the pregnancy can cause a child to acquire cerebral palsy.
How does cerebral palsy impact life expectancy?
One of the difficult parts of having a child with cerebral palsy is the uncertainty about their life expectancy. Predicting medical conditions like cerebral palsy alter lifespans is almost impossible – and sometimes physicians aren’t able to immediately diagnose the condition in newborns. Even when they do, it can take months to years to accurately assess the level and extent of impairment a child will experience.
To fully understand how cerebral palsy has affected a child’s brain, a doctor might wait until the brain is fully developed, observing the child’s behavior over time and gauging critical developmental milestones. They should also be paying attention to other symptoms of cerebral palsy that impact life expectancy, including the following:
- Severity level
- Mobility restrictions
- Feeding difficulties
- Respiratory issues
- Visual acuity
- Seizures
- Cognitive functioning
- Number of impairments and disabilities
Some of these factors reduce life expectancy by weakening parts of the body. For example, respiratory distress makes it more difficult for the body to function and can lead to life-threatening heart conditions.
Extending life expectancy with cerebral palsy.
As doctors observe a child’s condition, they may also recommend therapy and treatments to help minimize the effects of impairment. Although it can be challenging to determine a prognosis, setting goals with the child’s doctors and learning to manage impairment, conditions, and other factors can improve outcomes.
If your child’s condition was caused by the negligence of a doctor, please don’t hesitate to call us. A medical malpractice suit against the hospital holds doctors accountable for malpractice and can secure the money you need to provide the best quality of life and care possible for your child with cerebral palsy.
Our skilled Baltimore malpractice attorneys have more than 100 years of combined legal experience to offer your case, and we have recovered more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements for families like yours.
Contact us at (410) 998-3600 or fill out our online form https://www.malpracticeteam.com/contact-us/ to schedule a free case consultation with us today.
